Modes of Regional Governance in Africa: Neoliberalism, Sovereignty-Boosting and Shadow Networks

Abstract

This article transcends the limitations in the debate on governance by bringing in: (1) the “regional” dimension in contrast to the current emphasis on either “global governance” or “good governance” at the national level; and (2) considering informal and private aspects of governance as opposed to the excessive focus on formal and public modes of governance.

Following on from this, the purpose of this article is to identify and critically assess three particular modes of regional governance in current Africa: (i) neoliberal regional governance; (ii) sovereignty-boosting governance; and (iii) regional shadow governance. The analysis explains the origins, the main actors, and the purposes of these three varieties of regional governance. The paper also considers the relationships among the three forms of governance as well as their longterm viability.